How Google tablet may look like

Apple's iPad may soon have competition. As iPad commanded the technology world's attention, Google continued working quietly on tablet computer software that could run rivals to Apple's latest creation.

Pictures of what a Google tablet might look like were featured at a Chromium developers web page this week along with talk of how touchscreen controls could work based on the Internet titan's Chrome computer operating system.


Shots highlight UI



The images were posted online two days before the January 27 event at which Apple unveiled an iPad tablet computer that will begin shipping worldwide in March.

The page is primarily comprises shots highlighting the user interface (UI) of a tablet PC. It includes such possibilities as, "keyboard interaction with the screen: anchored, split, attached to focus," "contextual actions triggered via dwell," and "zooming UI for multiple tabs."



Touch interface



"You may have seen our Chrome OS tablet concepts from last Monday; in the video, some floating hands interact with a touch surface," Google Chrome lead designer Glen Murphy wrote in a personal blog post.

"We only used one hand image instead of showing the full range of gestures, but I did make a larger set."

Gesture control capabilities



Google made images and video of Google tablet gesture control capabilities available online for developers to consider.

The "concept user interface under development" could signal another front on which Google will battle with Apple, which uses its own custom software in the iPad, iPhone, iPod, and Macintosh computers


Netbooks only?



According to the Chromium form factors site, "While its primary focus is Netbooks, Chrome OS could eventually scale to a wide variety of devices. Each would have vastly different input methods, available screen space, and processing power." Chromium is the name of the open-source developer project that underlies the branded Chrome product.

The website focused on Chrome OS software and did not indicate whether Google would make its own tablet or opt to let others tend to the hardware.

Target date



Google's mobile Android software is built into iPhone competitors, including the Internet firm's own Nexus One smartphone released in January.

The target date for Chrome OS hardware is Q4 2010.

Tablet, tablets... are buyers listening?



IT companies have been trying to make tablets for years, with little success. Apple hopes its design will change that with its iPad selling from $499 to $829.

Recently-held CES saw unveiling of a flurry of tablets from computing companies of all hues. While Microsoft tied up with HP to luanch a Tablet PC, others joining the tablet fray include Dell, Asus, MSI and Sony
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